Abesha Care HIV/AIDS Initiative

At the start of every intravenous injection, blood is introduced into the needle and
syringe. HIV can be found in the blood of a person infected with the virus. The
reuse of a blood-contaminated needle or syringe by another drug injector
(sometimes called "direct syringe sharing") carries a high risk of HIV transmission
because infected blood can be injected directly into the bloodstream.

Sharing drug equipment (or "works") can be a risk for spreading HIV. Infected
blood can be introduced into drug solutions by

using blood-contaminated syringes to prepare drugs;
reusing water;
reusing bottle caps, spoons, or other containers ("spoons" and "cookers") used to
dissolve drugs in water and to heat drug solutions; or
reusing small pieces of cotton or cigarette filters ("cottons") used to filter out
particles that could block the needle.
"Street sellers" of syringes may repackage used syringes and sell them as sterile
syringes. For this reason, people who continue to inject drugs should obtain
syringes from reliable sources of sterile syringes, such as pharmacies.

It is important to know that sharing a needle or syringe for any use, including skin
popping and injecting steroids, can put one at risk for HIV and other blood-borne
infections.

REFERENCE
CDC. HIV and AIDS: Are You at Risk?
Content Source:
Divisions of HIV/AIDS Prevention
National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention

Questions and Answers

		Why is injecting drugs a risk for HIV?

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